'Community' Just Might Get to Six Seasons and a Movie (Yes Really)

Communityhas always been on the bubble. The show does well in its demographic, but has never had high ratings. But after five seasons, the show will have amassed 98 episodes — two shy of the most syndication-friendly number — while much of NBC’s schedule hasn’t worked out so hot. So now it seems like it will get to six seasons. The new twist is that there could also be a movie.

Fans will know the phrase “six seasons and a movie” was Abed’s rallying cry for The Cape (NBC’s short-lived superhero series), but it was embraced by creator Dan Harmon and fans alike as a pledge of allegiance to Community. Now that the show seems poised for renewal, TV Guide is reporting that the movie part could come true, with previous Communityhelmer (and the man behind the last four Fast and Furiousmovies) Justin Lin a possible director, while they also mention Joe and Anthony Russo, though those two will likely be busy with Captain America 3.

The article also points that a sixth season is almost inevitable at this point, with Sony (who produces the show) sure they can take a thirteen episode final run, somewhere else if NBC passes. But the movie part is real, according to Harmon, who told this to Hitfix:

The movie part is the movie part. I mean, if they do a sixth season, I have to participate. And having done that, if the movie has to be made out of clay and duct tape in my basement, then that’s how the movie will be made, because there has to be closure. The title of the book about the show is not “’Community,’ An Interesting Journey into a Show No One Ever Watched.” The title of the book is obviously going to be, “Six Seasons and a Movie.” So it’s already over. Sometimes our hands are just tied up in fate.

Of course, the show is ALREADY in syndication with the 80+ episodes from the first four seasons. NBC doesn’t need to keep it going for syndication purposes, because it is already there. They SHOULD keep it going because it is funny and doing alright in the target demo.

Damon worked in the film business as a Film Buyer for a theater chain for many years, which gives him an interesting perspective on the numbers. He's written for Collider, Chud, Screencrush, The DVD Journal and Binaryflix online, and was published by The New York Times and Willamette Week, along with his college, high school and middle school papers.